Item: Ridgewood Dental Associates
Rating: 5
Author: Brittany Garland

Periodontics

Gum disease and jawbone atrophy can cause your teeth to become loose and eventually fall out.

The field of periodontics aims to maintain the gums and jawbone so they can effectively support the teeth.

Ridgewood Dental Associates serving Ridgewood, NJ, can help you care for your oral health and treat problems when they arise.

Understanding Periodontal Disease

Gingivitis

Periodontal disease occurs when bacteria builds up above and below the gumline. In its earliest stages, the condition is known as gingivitis, causing symptoms like red, tender gums and bad breath. Fortunately, gingivitis can usually be reversed with a professional cleaning from a dentist and a good at-home dental care routine that includes brushing and flossing.

Advanced Periodontitis

When left untreated, gingivitis progresses into advanced periodontitis, which causes irreparable damage to the tissues that hold teeth in place. If you have advanced periodontitis, you may notice symptoms such as deep periodontal pockets, chronic bad breath, and loose teeth. Treatment from a periodontist is necessary to reverse this condition.

Treating Gum Disease

Though our dentists will always emphasize the importance of preventing gum disease through proper daily care and regular exams, our board-certified periodontist Jin Ha Joung can provide you with treatment for active gum disease when necessary. Our solutions include:

Scaling and Root Planing

Scaling and root planing is a dental procedure in which all plaque and tartar are removed from above and below the gumline. The tooth roots are then smoothed to encourage the gums to reattach to the teeth, reducing periodontal pockets and allowing your teeth to be held firmly in place.

Guided Tissue Regeneration

Guided tissue regeneration is a procedure in which our periodontist makes a flap in the gums and removes all bacteria. He then places a membrane between the gum tissue and bone. Bone tissue regenerates slower than gum tissue, so this membrane gives the bone the space and time it needs to heal.

Restorative Dentistry Options

If you've lost teeth or needed extractions as a result of periodontal disease, our dentists can provide you with restorations to return functionality to your smile.

Dental Implants

A patient who is missing a tooth will experience jawbone atrophy as a result. Dental implants replace tooth roots to support restorations and stimulate the jawbone to prevent this bone loss.

Dental Crowns

Our New Jersey dentists can provide patients with an implant-supported crown to replace a single tooth. This crown is shade-matched to the patient's natural teeth to blend in seamlessly with their smile.

Dental Bridges

This dentistry solution available at our Ridgewood, NJ, practice can replace up to three missing teeth in a row. It can be supported by dental implants or crowned abutment teeth.

Dentures

Our practice in Ridgewood, NJ, can create a denture to address widespread tooth loss, or even an entire arch of teeth. If periodontal disease has resulted in excessive bone loss, you may benefit from the All-on-4® technique, which can support a denture on either arch just four implants.

Achieve a More Uniform Smile Our Periodontist Can Also Improve Aesthetics

Though the field of periodontics aims to maintain the health of the gums and jawbone, treatment can also improve aesthetics. If you have a gummy smile or an uneven gumline, our periodontist serving Ridgewood, NJ, and communities throughout Northeast New Jersey can provide you with gum contouring. This cosmetic periodontal treatment removes excess gum tissue, resulting in a brighter, more even smile.